The Moonlit Way Part 6

"No, I don't know where she is. She was dancing. Then, all at once, she was gone. Of what was Colonel Ferez suspected?"

"I don't know. But perhaps we might guess."

"Are _you_ followed?"

"Yes."

"By--by whom?"

"By Souchez.... Good-bye, if I don't see you. I join Ferez. And look out for Nihla. She'll trick you yet!"

The Count d'Eblis called:

"Wait, for G.o.d's sake, Max!"--listened; called again in vain. "The one-eyed rabbit!" he panted, breathing hard and irregularly. His large hand shook as he replaced the instrument. He sat there as though paralysed, for a moment or two. Mechanically he removed his tinsel cap and thrust it into the pocket of his evening coat. Suddenly the dull hue of anger dyed neck, ears and temple:

"By G.o.d!" he gasped. "What is that she-devil trying to do to me? What has she _done_!"

After another moment of staring fixedly at nothing, he opened the table drawer, picked up a pistol and poked it into his breast pocket.

Then he rose, heavily, and stood looking out of the window at the paling east, his pendulous under lip aquiver.

II

SUNRISE

The first sunbeams had already gilded her bedroom windows, barring the drawn curtains with light, when the man arrived. He was still wearing his disordered evening dress under a light overcoat; his soiled s.h.i.+rt front was still crossed by the red ribbon of watered silk; third cla.s.s orders striped his breast, where also the brand new Turkish sunburst glimmered.

A sleepy maid in night attire answered his furious ringing; the man pushed her aside with an oath and strode into the semi-darkness of the corridor. He was nearly six feet tall, bulky; but his legs were either too short or something else was the matter with them, for when he walked he waddled, breathing noisily from the ascent of the stairs.

"Is your mistress here?" he demanded, hoa.r.s.e with his effort.

"Y--yes, monsieur----"

"When did she come in?" And, as the scared and bewildered maid hesitated: "d.a.m.n you, answer me! When did Mademoiselle Quellen come in? I'll wring your neck if you lie to me!"

The maid began to whimper:

"Monsieur le Comte--I do not wish to lie to you.... Mademoiselle Nihla came back with the dawn----"

"Alone?"

The maid wrung her hands:

"Does Monsieur le Comte m-mean to harm her?"

"Will you answer me, you snivelling cat!" he panted between his big, discoloured teeth. He had fished out a pistol from his breast pocket, dragging with it a silk handkerchief, a fancy cap of tissue and gilt, and some streamers of confetti which fell to the carpet around his feet.

"Now," he breathed in a half-strangled voice, "answer my questions.

Was she alone when she came in?"

"N-no."

"Who was with her?"

"A--a----"

"A man?"

The maid trembled violently and nodded.

"What man?"

"M-Monsieur le Comte, I have never before beheld him----"

"You lie!"

"I do not lie! I have never before seen him, Monsieur le----"

"Did you learn his name?"

"No----"

"Did you hear what they said?"

"They spoke in English----"

"What!" The man's puffy face went flabby white, and his big, badly made frame seemed to sag for a moment. He laid a large fat hand flat against the wall, as though to support and steady himself, and gazed dully at the terrified maid.

And she, s.h.i.+vering in her night-robe and naked feet, stared back into the pallid face, with its coa.r.s.e, greyish moustache and little short side-whiskers which vulgarized it completely--gazed in unfeigned terror at the sagging, deadly, lead-coloured eyes.

"Is the man there--in there now--with her?" demanded the Comte d'Eblis heavily.

"No, monsieur."

"Gone?"

"Oh, Monsieur le Comte, the young man stayed but a moment----"

"Where were they? In her bedroom?"

"In the salon. I--I served a pate--a gla.s.s of wine--and the young gentleman was gone the next minute----"

A dull red discoloured the neck and features of the Count.

"That's enough," he said; and waddled past her along the corridor to the furthest door; and wrenched it open with one powerful jerk.